Energy efficiency in social housing: guidance for landlords - revised 2020

7 Additional Measures

7.1 The EESSH does not prescribe which measures are to be installedso social landlords are free to meet the EESSH minimum ratings as they see fit, using any available measures. It is for landlords to identify the most cost-effective measures, in their individual operating context, and use these to achieve the standard.

7.2 It is anticipated that social landlords will generally look to install reasonable measures first before looking at other additional measures. This will follow on from an initial consideration of what Business as Usual (BaU) work (i.e. cyclical replacement of existing elements, for example boilers, windows and storage heaters) is planned to occur anyway. In most cases, the use of BaU and reasonable measures should achieve the relevant EESSH rating. Social landlords, subject to cost/benefit decisions, may also decide to install measures which achieve significantly higher ratings at the outset.

Additional measures

7.3 Additional measures are likely to be required for the minority of properties where social landlords cannot achieve the minimum EE rating using only reasonable measures. Landlords are encouraged to be creative and innovative in their approaches to improving energy efficiency and to assess all available options. A range of renewables solutions may be considered, such as Biomass, Solar Hot Water, PV, Air or Ground Source Heat Pumps, Micro Combined Heat and Power. Options such as district heating, heat recovery and flat-roof insulation may also be appropriate in specific circumstances. As noted previously, the decision on what measures are installed to ensure compliance with the standard lies with the individual social landlord.

Traditional housing

7.4 Older housing, especially housing built before 1919, may fall into the "hard to treat" category for energy efficiency improvements. Housing of this age may be in a poor state of repair, sometimes exacerbated by poor knowledge of appropriate repairs in older construction. Energy efficiency improvement can also be more problematic in properties in mixed tenure blocks, including those where sub-division has occurred. Historic Environment Scotland have carried out extensive research on this issue. It is accepted that thermal improvement is important and that all categories of building should be improved where possible, but there is often a condition deficit as well as a thermal one in traditional buildings, and improvements should be appropriate to the construction of the building.

7.5 In traditional buildings it may not be appropriate to select measures on the basis of minimising U-values and maximising air tightness. Technically appropriate measures mean that materials used are vapour and capillary open, allowing dispersal of water vapour in the fabric. In general existing building elements are improved with additional materials, as opposed to their removal and replacement. This fulfils the wider sustainability agenda as well reducing disruption, waste to landfill and to some extent costs. Historic Environment Scotland's research has shown successful projects on traditional buildings can include double glazing, floor insulation, warm and cold roof measures, internal wall insulation and ventilation improvements.^[22]